Long list of elite recruits expected in Tuscaloosa for A-Day

North Carolina quarterback Riley Ferguson is among the fastest-rising quarterback prospects of the 2013 class. (Photo courtesy of 247Sports)

Over the past six years, Alabama's A-Day spring game has regularly served as a key recruiting opportunity for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide coaching staff, providing a gameday-like atmosphere in the middle of the highly-competitive spring recruiting season. As usual, Alabama will be hosting a sizable group of elite prospects this year and if the pattern of recent years continues, the Tide could emerge with a new commitment or two by the end of the weekend.

While the nation's top overall player Robert Nkemdiche would undoubtedly be the headliner should he decide to visit Tuscaloosa (the five-star defender has yet to announce where he'll be headed this weekend), the biggest name currently scheduled to be on campus at Alabama is Monaca, Pennsylvania wide receiver Robert Foster. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound star is rated the nation's No. 1 wide receiver for the Class of 2013 by 247Sports and while he is currently being pursued by nearly every major program in America, Alabama will look to make a strong early impression on the elite playmaker (click here for Foster's junior season highlights).

Alabama's search for an elite quarterback in the 2013 class has been well-documented already, and the Tide will be hosting some of the top prospects in the nation at that position during A-Day. North Carolina signal-caller Riley Ferguson has seen his stock steadily climb this spring and will also be visiting the Tide for a camp this summer while fellow North Carolinian Connor Mitch has been among the Tide's top targets from early on. Ohio star Mitch Trubisky, a dual-threat quarterback who could provide an interesting and unique option for the Tide, will also be in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Georgia running back Alvin Kamara spent nearly his entire spring break in Tuscaloosa last week and came away with plenty of positive things to say about Alabama. Kamara won't be away from Tuscaloosa long as he plans on returning to see the Tide in action at the A-Day game.

Several of the South's top underclassmen will also be on hand for the A-Day scrimmage this weekend, with Alabama welcoming Class of 2014 stars Tre' Williams and Bo Scarbrough, two in-state players believed to be among the nation's best sophomores. Louisiana running back Lenoard Fournette and Tennessee defensive back Todd Kelly are also among the elite sophomores scheduled to visit the Tide this weekend.

As usual, Alabama is also expecting a number of its current commits on hand for the scrimmage. A-Day provides committed players with both a chance to touch base with the coaching staff again as well as an opportunity to help recruit some of their fellow 2013 prospects from the bleachers. Arkansas running back Altee Tenpenny and Huntsville offensive lineman Grant Hill are both expected to be on hand Saturday along with several other of the Tide's 9 total commitments for the 2013 class.